We know that most of the people who access this site are looking for free cell phones. Knowing this we have tried to profile some of the larger free cell phone providers in the United States. However, there are many states that don’t participate in the Federal Lifeline Program, or have not attracted the attention of one of the large providers. What options are available for people residing in these states?

Sometimes cheap cell phones are better than free ones!

Discounted service is available in most states from either local, regional or national service providers. Companies we are all familiar with, like Verizon and T-Mobile offer discounted cell phone plans to people under the Lifeline assistance Plan, as well as some we may have never heard of. Understandably most people would like a completely free phone, however, the free plans are generally limited to 250 per month of both incoming and outgoing calls, a relatively small amount. Some customers who choose a free phone with 250 minutes end up purchasing additional minutes every month anyway. If you think that might be you, take a look at some of the discounted services, as their plans may be superior to the companies offering free service.

As mentioned on another page, there are special benefits for people living on Tribal Lands. Under the Enhanced Lifeline Assistance plan, many states offer discounts to cell phone service that reduces the cost to only $1 per month.

We will briefly cover some of the better options in each state. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but it will give some of the better options. For more information, including eligibility requirements about the plans on this page, you may either visit the provider’s website or call their customer service numbers listed below.

Click on your state to be taken to that section: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming

If you have reached this page and your state is not listed above, there’s good news! You can get a free cell phone from one of the providers profiled on this site. Please go to our Assurance Wireless, Reachout Wireless, Safelink Wireless or Yourtel Wireless to see how you may get a free phone.

Lifeline Phones: Alaska

As mentioned earlier, even though Alaska does not yet have a free phone program, residents can take advantage of some of the best Lifeline discounts available nationwide. 2 Anchorage-based companies, Alaska Communications and GCI, offer a plan where residents can get unlimited talk & text minutes for only a dollar!

AT&T also offers service in Alaska. Their Lifeline service is more expensive than the other carriers, starting at $24.99 plus an $8.25 discount for the Federal Lifeline Plan for 1200 anytime minutes. There may be additional discounts available, which may further reduce the cost. For some in Tribal Lands, you may be able to receive the same AT&T service plan for $1.

Contact numbers: Alaska Communications 1-800-808-8083, or 1-800-563-8000; GTI 1-800-800-4800


Lifeline Phones: Colorado

Assurance Wireless has just announced that they will commence service in the state of Colorado.

Previously, only discounted phones were available in Colorado through a state Lifeline program called LITAP that provides discounts to paid service carriers. The qualification for participation is different under Colorado LITAP than the Federal Lifeline Plan. You cannot qualify based upon receiving benefits under a Federal Plan, but you must be receiving benefits under a qualifying state plan. Those plans include:

Old Age Pension Benefits                     Aid to the Needy Disabled                           Aid to the Blind                Supplemental Security Income        Colorado Works/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families                              Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

Cricket Wireless, a cell phone provider operating in several states, offers a $10 discount to Lifeline –eligible customers.  Their plans begin at $35, so it is a very good thing that the  people of Colorado now have an option for free phones.

Cricket Wireless 1-800-975-3708

Lifeline Discounts: Hawaii

The Aloha State may be far from the mainland, but the state still has access to Lifeline discounts. T-Mobile offers a $6.49 plan for residents of Hawaii. For that price, customers get 145 anytime minutes with 500 night minutes and 500 weekend minutes per month.  Customers may qualify by participating in any of the Federal programs listed on our home page or by having a household income less than 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

T-Mobile 1-800-937-8997

Discounted Phone Service: Idaho

The state of Idaho through the state version of  the  Lifeline Plan, allows its non-Tribal Lands residents a discount of up to $13.50. When applied to AT&T’s $24.99 a month service for a generous 600 anytime & 1,000 anytime minutes, you have the makings of a really good deal.

The deal gets better for those on Tribal Lands, as they can receive the same service for $1 per month.

T-Mobile offers a $6.49 plan for residents of Idaho. $6.49 buys you145 anytime minutes with 500 night minutes and 500 weekend minutes per month.  Customers may qualify by participating in any of the Federal programs listed on our home page or by having a household income less than 133% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

T-Mobile also offers benefits under the Enhanced Lifeline Program to those living on Tribal Lands. The monthly price is only $1.

AT&T: 1-800-377-9450    T-Mobile 1-800-937-8997

Lifeline Phones: Minnesota

Minnesota is a little late to the party and has fewer options for getting a free or discounted cell phone at the moment. Nevertheless, there are still good deals to be had. Life Wireless, a new company, has been set up and is offering free and low-cost phones to residents of Minnesota. Please see our Life Wireless page to see how you can get a free phone.

T-Mobile offers a $6.49 plan for residents of Minnesota. $6.49 buys you 145 anytime minutes with 500 night minutes and 500 weekend minutes per month.  Customers may qualify by participating in any of the Federal programs listed on our home page or by having a household income less than 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

T-Mobile also offers benefits under the Enhanced Lifeline Program to those living on Tribal Lands. The monthly price is only $1.

Verizon Wireless also offers discounted phones in Minnesota. They offer 400 anytime minutes and 1,000 mobile to mobile minutes. At $33.99, it is far from the cheapest offer in the nation.  Verizon can be reached at 1-800-924-0585

Lifeline Phones: Montana

The Big Sky State has a good option when it comes to cell phone service. Q-Link Wireless offers free phones to Montana residents who qualify. In addition to a free phone, Q-Link offers 3 plans, 68 minutes, 125 minutes and 250 minutes. The 68 & 125 minute plans come with free rollover minutes.

Q-Link is one of the few carriers that allows their Lifeline customers to upgrade their phones. Their selection is on their website, and while not vast, still provides customers with inexpensive options for better phones.

Qlink Wireless: 1-855-754-6543

Lifeline Phones: Nebraska

Verizon Wireless offers discounted Lifeline phones in the Cornhusker State. For $20.49 a month, customers will  receive 400 anytime minutes and 1,000 mobile to mobile minutes. There was a $35 activation fee that the company used to apply a Link Up discount for half of the fee and the company waived the other half. With the elimination of the Link Up discount for activation fee, it remains to be seen how the company will handle this change.

For potential customers living in Nebraska’s Tribal Lands, they can receive the same plan for only $1 a month under the Enhanced Lifeline Plan.

Verizon Wireless can be reached on 1-800-924-0585.

Lifeline Phones: New Mexico

The Land of Enchantment has a new up and coming provider that provides free cell phones to those who qualify. Choice Wireless has a plan where they offer 250 minutes and 100 text minutes every month at no cost to their Lifeline customers, in addition to the free phone.

Choice Wireless also offers other benefits to New Mexico Tribal Land residents.  For only $34, customers receive 2 years of unlimited voice and text service! Eligible customers can choose either a free phone or $10 off the phone of their choice. As a final benefit, customers get 100 minutes of roaming every month as well.

Choice Wireless can be reached on 1-575-235-9371

Discounted Phone Service: North Dakota

North Dakota is a state that has yet to approve carriers that provide free cell phones, but they do have discounted plans, both for statewide residents and for those in Tribal Lands, under the Lifeline Enhanced benefit plan.

Non-Tribal Plans

AT&T offers 300 anytime & 1,000 night & weekend minutes for residents of North Dakota for $24.99 per month before discounts. People in non-tribal areas can receive discounts of up to $8.25 per month. Verizon Wireless provides a plan for $25.74 for 400 anytime and 1,000 local to local minutes.

Tribal Areas

Both companies offer the above packages at $1 per month for those living in Tribal Lands.

For more information, please call AT&T on 1-800-377-9450.

Lifeline Plans: Oklahoma

The Sooner state not only has some of the best college football in the nation, and one of the best NBA teams but is also home to some of the best paid Lifeline plans in the country.

Yourtel Wireless has 2 good paid plans for the residents of the state. The first is a 1000 minute/text plan for only $1 a month. The next is an unlimited voice minute package (no text messages allowed)for only $6.40. Both plans are subject to state and local taxes, and residents need to pay a $30 activation fee. The good news is that the fee can be spread over the first 12 months of service. See our Yourtel Wireless page for more information.

Yourtel is not your only option if you want low-cost service in Oklahoma. Assist Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance provider operating in three states. They offer the same plans as Yourtel Wireless in Oklahoma. Their price is $6.20 for the unlimited plan, and $1 for the 1,000 minute,/1,000 text plan. Like Yourtel, there is no rollover option available for the 1,000 minute plan. Unfortunately, Assist Wireless charges a $60 activation fee, which may be offset by a Link Up discount, however changes being made to the Federal program may change that ( see our Overhaul page for more details).

Assist Wireless: 1-855-392-7747

Free Government Cell Phones: Oregon

Assurance Wireless has announced that they are starting service in Oregon. You may see the announcement information here, or get an application for Assurance Wireless in Oregon.

Oregon is a state rich with some of the best scenery in all of America. Blessed with mountains, and miles and miles of beautiful coastline, it also has one of the most stunning places in all of America in the picturesque Crater Lake. As rich as the state is in natural beauty, it also has some decent plans for those qualifying for the Lifeline Assistance Plan.

Qualifying residents of Oregon are eligible to receive a discount of up to $13.50 on existing cell phones service with many carriers like AT&T, Cricket Communication and others.

AT&T offers a Lifeline Plan where residents receive 300 anytime and 1,000 nights and weekend minutes. The price for Lifeline customers starts at $24.99, upon which the state discount is applied. Unfortunately, this discount only applies to residents in certain areas of Oregon. See the AT&T brochure here for more information.

For more information, please call AT&T on 1-800-377-9450.


Discounted Government Cell Phones: South Dakota

South Dakota has several carriers that provide discounts for qualifying Lifeline customers, but unfortunately as of this writing, no free cell phones. Verizon Wireless and Qwest Communications are two carriers that operate in South Dakota, and provide discounts to residents of the state. For example, Verizon gives a discount of at least $8.25 to their $33.99 monthly service. Verizon gives 400 anytime and 1000 mobile to mobile minutes. The activation fee is waived for Lifeline customers.

The best plans are reserved for residents in Tribal Lands, who may receive the same service from Verizon Wireless for only $1, plus taxes and fees per month.

AT&T has a great plan for those living in the Pine Bluff tribal lands. Residents there can receive unlimited voice minutes for as little as $1 a month. For features like, call waiting, caller ID, Voicemail and 6-way calling, just add $1.50 a month. The only drawback to this plan is that there are no text messages included in the package.

For full details of both plans please call AT&T on 1-800-377-9450 or Verizon on 1-800-924-0585

The best plans are reserved for residents in Tribal Lands, who may receive the same service from Verizon Wireless for only $1, plus taxes and fees per month.

AT&T has a great plan for those living in the Pine Bluff tribal lands. Residents there can receive unlimited voice minutes for as little as $1 a month. For features like, call waiting, caller ID, Voicemail and 6-way calling, just add $1.50 a month. The only drawback to this plan is that there are no text messages included in the package.

For full details of both plans please call AT&T on 1-800-377-9450 or Verizon on 1-800-924-0585

Lifeline Phones: Vermont

As of the current moment, we know of no providers in the state of Vermont providing free or discounted service in Vermont. We are constantly watching however, and will update this section if anything changes.

Lifeline Phones: Wyoming

There are at least a couple of companies that provide discounted service to Wyoming residents. Silver Star Wireless offers a $3.50 discount off of their regular service for its Lifeline customers. Unfortunately, this is one of the smaller benefits under the Lifeline Plan.  Silver Star’s cheapest plan is a $19.95 plan that gives 100 anytime minutes. Night & weekend minutes are extra and national long-distance is a whopping 17 cents per minute. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for better deals.